The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript
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[news anchor on TV]
All that and more coming up this morning.
But first, we have some local news.
[continues, indistinct]
Reggie.
- [classical music playing]
- [siren wailing]
Reggie!
Where you at, boy?
[thunder rumbling]
Reggie!
[echoing] Reggie.
Reggie!
I've been looking all over for you, boy.
Reggie!
Is you in here? Huh?
[gasps]
[breathes shakily]
[wails]
No!
[sobbing]
[sobbing continues, fades]
[Hilly grunting] Shit.
You little bitch! I'm gonna fuck you up!
- [door slams open]
- [Hilly panting]
Mama, I don't know
what this look like but...
The hell you don't!
- I was trying to pick her blanket up...
- Boy, shut up!
Head on back to your room, Hilliard.
[Niecie] Go on!
- [breathing heavily]
- [door opens, closes]
You can put the knife down now.
He tried to get up on me.
- He's just a boy horsing around.
- More like a man trying to rape me!
I don't need to hear that right now.
Well, Hilly need to hear it.
I'm just t-trying to sleep.
I can see now that
having you here was wishful thinking.
That's on me. Should have known better.
Between Hilly's age and...
And you being all...
All what?
[sighs]
You're a pretty girl, Robyn.
Pretty young thing
walking around half naked.
The boy can't sleep.
- [scoffs] How's that my problem?
- You tell me.
- You're the one with the knife...
- My mama gave me this knife.
[sighing]
I know how hard it's been for you,
your daddy getting killed
and... and all the men your mother had
in the house with you, but...
- My mama loved me.
- And I loved her.
She was my best friend.
I... It's why I wanted you here.
But now I gotta think about
what's best for Hilly, and you too.
You got all your girlfriends
from the equivalency test study group.
Ask one of them
if you can stay for a little while.
[breathes shakily]
But I didn't do nothing wrong.
I know. It ain't about what you did.
It's about what you ain't woman enough
to see yet.
It's our duty to make sure
these Black men don't go crazy.
[sniffles]
Right or wrong, it's what we got to do.
[scoffs]
[bangs]
[sniffles]
[switch blade clicks]
[sniffling]
[knocking]
- [Robyn] Mr. Grey?
- [Ptolemy whimpering]
- Mr. Grey, wake up. Wake up.
- [screaming]
[Ptolemy] Who are you?
- What you doing in my house?
- It's me. It's... It's me, Robyn.
B-B... Bird? First bird of spring?
[chuckles]
How you get in here, Bird?
I still got your key from last night.
I... I came to bring it back,
and... and when I knocked,
you started screaming.
- Oh.
- What'd you dream about?
Whoo-hoo! Whoo! It was...
[breathing heavily]
It was t... It was... It was terrible.
- Yeah? What happened?
- [stammers]
[grunts, groaning]
Hey, hey, hey, hey. Wait, wait, wait!
No need for all that.
Let me get some water for your face.
Where your toilet at?
Uh... [stammers]
T-Toilet... Toilet… [stammers] …b-broke.
And... And... And... And the
sink's... sink... sink's stopped up.
Then how you go to the bathroom?
Uh... [stammers]
I do number two
when Reggie come take me to the diner.
And... And number one in a...
In an old... old... old bean can
and pour it in the k-kitchen sink
and run the faucet after.
- In the kitchen?
- Mm-hmm.
No. No. Mm-mmm. Where your toilet at?
Uh, it's... it's... it's down there.
Round there. Down the hall.
- This way?
- Least that's where it used to be.
- Nothing's gonna jump out on me?
- Mm-mmm.
- You sure?
- Mm-hmm.
[hinges creak]
Nah. Nuh-uh. N-No!
- That in there ain't right.
- Uh, well... [stammers]
Stop... Stop... Stop doing what
you're doing and go close that door.
No, no, no, no. You listen!
That don't get dealt with,
I-I'ma be haunted, you understand?
- [groaning] Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.
- Haunted.
- Mmm. So, where your cleaning stuff at?
- My treasures. Uh-uh.
What are you talking about?
E-Every time Reggie say
he gonna clean up here... in here...
H-he end up throwing away
all... all my best things.
- My best things.
- Oh, yeah? Like what?
[stammering]
- [grunting]
- Aw, come on. Don't do that.
[panting]
Come on. I'll show you.
- [grunts] Oh, you's moving too fast!
- Oh, I'm sorry.
Here, sit. Sit. Sorry.
[whimpering, panting]
I'll tell you what.
I'll show you everything before I toss it,
and you get to decide.
- Huh?
- You like that?
- Oh, uh...
- Yeah, yeah, yeah. You like that.
- All right. You ready?
- Uh, I-I guess.
[Robyn sighs]
You wanna keep this funky old toothbrush?
- [growls]
- [shudders, laughs]
- No. No, you throw that thing away.
- Yeah.
[clears throat]
- Yeah, we can get rid of that.
- [clatters]
Thinking we can get rid of this too?
Say goodbye?
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay.
Uh-uh! [stammers]
[rattles]
[laughs]
[chuckles] All right then.
- Throw that in your can now.
- [chuckles]
[laughs]
Wh-Wh-What that is?
[Robyn] I don't know. "Cough and cold."
[Ptolemy] I ain't got neither one of them.
[clattering]
[screams]
[stomps]
Oh, hell nah!
How do you live like this?
You can always go on
back over to Niecie's.
I don't live there no more.
What happened? They throwed you out?
- Yeah.
- How come?
[sighs] Don't even matter.
You can stay here.
I got plenty of tabletops.
You infested, you hear?
All these piles, all these boxes,
breeding ground.
We gonna have to put a stop to all that.
- Right now?
- Yes.
[groans]
Jesus... [sighs]
[coughs]
[toilet flushing]
[news anchor] Tensions
throughout the Middle East remain high.
What started as a civil conflict
has escalated to violence.
Eyewitness accounts…
[continues, indistinct]
Come on. Let me show you
how a bathroom's supposed to look.
[sighs]
[groans]
Why you walk so fast? [sighs]
Voilà!
[laughs]
[both chuckle]
[Ptolemy chuckling]
- [laughs] It's magic!
- [chuckles]
Nah. Your... Your float arm was just bent.
And you had junk in the toilet bowl
and the sink, but it didn't take much.
How you know how to do all this here?
My mama used to get sick,
and we ain't had no money,
so it would be on me to fix things.
- Oh, your mama's sick?
- She died.
Oh, that's too bad.
[toilet flushes]
[Ptolemy laughing, clapping]
- Ooh! Whoo! I got to go. I got to go.
- What?
- Now?
- Mm-hmm.
Just 'cause there's paper on the roll
don't mean wad it up.
The pipes might work,
but they're angry about it, you hear?
Uh-huh. Oh, Lord. [exclaims]
[door opens]
[Ptolemy] Whoo! That's something else.
Mm-mm-mmm.
Go back in there and wash your hands.
Yeah, you.
[scoffs]
I can't do this by myself.
[junk rattles]
[sighs]
You thinking about throwing away
more of my stuff?
I'm just trying to make things
better for you.
Better don't sound so bad, do it?
[sighs]
Hmm?
So, can you be...
Can you be cool with me cleaning?
- Mmm. Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
No throwing fits and...
And smacking yourself, you hear?
Mm-hmm.
- You got the key for that padlock?
- No, no, no, no, no.
No. It ain't... Uh-uh, not that.
- No, you ain't got the key? Or...
- Mm-mmm.
[grunts, sighs]
Look, I got to go in here.
There's too many roaches.
- I gotta insect bomb.
- Not in there.
- In everywhere. That's the point.
- [sighs]
Well… that's her room.
- Sensia.
- Who?
Sensia. I was... I was married to her,
and... and... and she died.
[sighs]
Look, you could lock it back up
once I'm done.
- [sighs]
- You can trust me.
You hear? You can.
It'd be like it never, ever happened.
I promise.
[sighs]
Don't worry. I'ma make this quick.
[hammering echoes]
- [whimpers]
- [hinges creak]
It's nice.
[Ptolemy] You need to come out of there.
[breathing shakily]
[grunts]
[Sensia echoing] Come on in.
Sensie?
[groans]
You coming, or what?
[chuckles]
Why you standing out there, Pitypapa?
You shy?
She gone, boy.
[Robyn] Hey, why you lock this up?
This is the best room in the house.
[TV continues, indistinct]
[Billy] Jocko, let me know
if you need help in there, aight?
- [Jocko] Aight.
- [clattering]
- [TV playing, indistinct]
- [classical music playing]
[Jocko] Hey, you not gonna use
this suitcase, are you, Mr. Grey?
You leave my traveling case alone!
And leave my bookcase alone,
and don't mess with my sounds on my TV.
Okay, okay, sir. We got you.
You come out that closet,
and don't take my books!
All right! All right.
They get the message.
Look, we almost there.
- [clattering]
- See, see, they're in my closet!
- [stammering]
- Nobody wanna go in your closet. Come on.
[stammers] It was in a...
It w... It... It was in a little trunk
made out of... made out of wood
and metal.
- Uh, and that's what it was in.
- What was?
Um, the, um... The... [groaning]
- No, come on. No need for all that.
- Oh, I can't... I for... I-I forget.
[Billy] Looks pretty good in here,
huh, Mr. Grey?
Hey, um, I'd like to take
the alligator suitcase.
- I mean, he ain't going nowhere.
- Nuh-uh! Leave my alligator alone. No!
[Jocko] He don't need it.
Hey, hey.
It's his bag, and he gonna keep it.
- That's right.
- See?
I told you.
Ain't got nothing to worry about.
- And what your name is again?
- Robyn.
- First bird of spring.
- Yes.
[chuckles]
If you want them to take this stuff
down to the recycling, we gotta go.
[Billy] Yeah, I hear you.
I'll be out there in a minute, man.
All right.
[Jocko sighs]
It was this... It wa... It was a little box
made out of metal and wood
behind a red rock
way down in the well.
Hey, Robyn. Talk a sec.
What's up?
The amount we agreed on.
- Way more than you bargained for?
- Uh…
[both chuckle]
I get it.
But don't worry. I got you.
Cool.
- Hey! Billy and Jocko are about to go.
- Bye.
[chuckles]
Well, we can't do them like that.
We got to pay them first.
Not with... Not with Coydog's treasure.
That ain't what it's for.
- Yeah, but what about your can money?
- Hmm?
Let me look.
Well, why you got a saltshaker? Whatever.
[Billy] Want me to take these fans,
Mr. Grey?
No, uh, we need those.
[Billy] Aight. Um…
[sucks]
[Billy] What about those folding chairs?
Uh, you know, just, like, take a couple.
Oh, uh, Jocko found this
taped to the side of the TV.
If... If... If you gonna stay,
you could...
You can sleep in Sensia's room.
She won't mind, and... and I can sleep
out here on this here settee.
Do you know why somebody made
this doctor's appointment?
You... You... You... You stay
in Sensia's room, if you gonna stay.
Hey, why you got to go to the doctor?
I don't know.
I ain't... I ain't... I ain't sick.
Did Reggie make
this doctor appointment for you?
Hey, wait for me outside.
Where all my stuff at?
[Robyn] So, what, you don't like it?
[chuckles] All right.
I'ma see Jocko and Billy on their way.
[stammers] Is you coming back?
- I'm just downstairs.
- Yeah, but is you coming back?
Yes.
I'll be back.
- Hey.
- Hey, what's up? You need a ride?
- Nah.
- Aight.
Did Reggie say anything to you
about taking him to a doctor?
I don't think so.
You gonna stay here with him?
[scoffs] Can't say I want to,
but Niecie kicked me out.
- I ain't got nowhere else right now.
- What Niecie do that for?
Shit, man. It was either me or Hilly.
[sighs, scoffs] That lady.
- Let me ask you.
- What?
Why don't you call Mr. Grey
"Papa Grey" or "Uncle"?
'Cause he ain't either one.
[chuckles] It's... It's respect, love.
What for, man?
Like he gonna remember no way.
Yeah. He's still a man though.
He's our elder.
- Got it, Jocko?
- Yes, sir.
[footsteps approaching]
I ain't... I ain't think
you was coming back.
But I am. And guess what?
- What?
- We going bomb shopping.
[cashier] You mean foggers?
They're not called bombs?
All I ever heard people call 'em
was bug bombs.
[cashier] Just fancy spray cans
filled with poison.
Well, that's what I want.
Yeah, I think we've still got a few.
Can I have, like, four of them?
Where you live at?
Do you have what I'm asking for?
[chuckles]
[Ptolemy] I like the way it smell in here.
Smell like... like iron nails
and motor oil.
[laughing] Hey, look!
Look at the stuff they got.
They got... It says stop leg
and foot cramps in about one minute.
- [laughs]
- [chuckles]
Mister, I don't like the way
you be looking at her.
Your eyes bugging out your head,
and your nose wide open
like a horny dog smell a bitch in heat.
That ain't how you look
at a nice young lady like this.
Pay his ass.
How much for all that?
[beeps]
[people chattering]
[audio distorted]
- [tires screech]
- [horn honks]
Hey! Watch where you going, old man.
Where the fuck you going?
Fuck you think you're going?
- [screams] Oh, no!
- Get your hands off him, bitch! [screams]
[Ptolemy screaming]
Give me my fucking money!
Where the fuck is my money? Enough...
- [shouts] Sh...
- [screaming continues]
- Fuck you, bitch.
- [grunting]
- No. No!
- Cut that shit out!
- [both shouting, grunting]
- Oh, Lord! Stop it!
- Stop! Stop! Oh! No!
- [grunts] Ah, shit!
- Let her go!
- [grunts]
Where the fuck is my money?
I need my fucking shit.
Where the fuck is my money?
Where the fuck is my shit?
I'm not playing.
- Where the fuck is my money?
- I don't know.
- [Ptolemy screaming]
- [both grunting]
[Ptolemy] No! No! No!
No, no, no, no! [grunts]
[Melinda] Bitch!
[onlookers chattering]
[breathing heavily]
It's all right. Come on. Come on.
- [whimpers]
- Come on. Get up.
Okay. Okay. [whimpering]
[door closes]
- [TV playing, indistinct]
- [classical music playing]
[breathing heavily]
You owe that fat heifer money?
Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Uh, she... she...
She came in here one time,
and she smacked me down,
took my change can.
And that's why Reggie put
the extra lock on the door
and told me d-don't let nobody in but him.
She lucky I ain't cut her.
Oh, no. Lord, no. We don't want that.
Mm-mmm. Mm-mmm.
[breathing shakily]
You d... You all right?
[sighs] I don't... I don't know.
Rest easy, Uncle.
Ain't nobody out to kill a bitch today.
- No?
- Nah.
Just got about 100,000
of these motherfuckers on my list though.
[chuckles]
[fog hissing]
Don't want the poison out in the hall.
[Robyn sighs]
Thanks, by the way.
Thank you for what?
For what you said to the man
in the hardware store.
[chuckles]
What did I say?
Where I'm gonna live
w-when you blow up my house?
Oh, I ain't blowing up your house.
Just pumping it full of poison.
That's good?
Depends on whether you're in or out.
And what is we?
We out, Uncle. We out.
This where we live at now?
Nah, we just here for tonight.
You'll be back home tomorrow.
Damn, I smell like bug bomb juice.
I still got all my God-given teeth.
- Oh, yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
[Robyn chuckles]
[Coydog echoing] Look at you, boy.
[thunder rumbles]
You're just a greedy gut.
Come on, Coy. I ain't so bad.
Where's what I stole for you?
- It's… It's... It's...
- [thunder rumbling]
I... I can't remember.
Well, you got to remember.
All a man is, is what he remember.
Okay.
Oh... Oh... Oh, okay.
I'ma find it. I'ma...
I'ma find it. I promise.
I'll do it, just let me go.
Gotta go. Let me go. Let me go.
- Let me in.
- [knocking]
Let me in! Let me in! I promise.
[shouts]
[echoing] What you waiting on?
[panting]
- [sobs] Girl, don't do that!
- What?
Like her... [stammers]
With the dress and the comb. No, no.
Okay, fine! I'll take this shit off then!
- No!
- I don't want this shit anyway!
Go! Get out! Get!
- Go!
- [sobbing]
I ain't... I didn't steal it!
[vehicle passes]
[car horns honking]
[distorted screaming]
[honking continues]
- [gasps]
- [distorted screaming in distance]
[grunts]
[grunting]
- Go away!
- What the hell are you doing?
[panting] He said... He said...
He said help me.
[stammers] And I kicked him.
[panting]
You can't run away from me like that,
you hear?
I got away.
[groaning, breathing heavily]
[Ptolemy stammers] I bring these?
Nah.
Well, it ain't... it ain't...
It ain't got no business being here.
[stammers] In fact,
I... I shouldn't have kept it.
They belong to your wife.
[Ptolemy] Yeah, but she dead.
Maybe... Maybe... Maybe you can...
You can take 'em
and treat 'em like a woman ought to.
You should go to bed. It's late.
C-C-Can I listen to the TV?
[reporter on TV] …parts
of the United States will be subject
to increasing extreme rainfall
and flooding.
Meanwhile, warming in the Arctic
is also reaching record highs
with temperatures surging
across the region.
The loss of ice from melting
affects not only the animals and wildlife
that rely on habitat for survival,
but also impacts the polar jet stream
which is also directly…
I-I-Is we going home now?
Is Reggie coming later?
Nah, it's just you and me.
But Reggie did want you
to go see this doctor,
so I guess we heading there first.
Same doctor who had the... the woman
w-with the head growing out of her neck?
[car horn honks]
- [Robyn] What's up?
- What's up?
Y'all ready?
[Robyn] Watch your step.
- You doing all right, Mr. Grey?
- Yes, I am!
- [chuckles]
- All good. All good.
- How are you? Uh... Uh... Uh...
- Got it.
- Billy.
- Billy.
["Hip Hop Hooray" playing on speakers]
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- But…
♪ Hip hop hooray, ho ♪
♪ Hey, ho, hey, ho ♪
[Robyn laughs]
♪ Hey, ho ♪
♪ You drew a picture of my morning
But you couldn't make my day ♪
♪ I'm rockin' and you're yawning
But you never look my way ♪
♪ I'm licking down you, darlin'
In every single way ♪
♪ Your funny flow is foreign
And a green card's on the way ♪
- Hey! You having fun?
- [song continues]
[chuckles] Yeah!
I... I... I used to drive an ice truck
like this here.
All right, Mr. Grey in the ice truck,
you dig?
[Robyn, Billy laughing]
[song fades]
[song ends]
[Ptolemy grunts]
- Lord! [laughs]
- [laughs] What?
Mr. Grey,
what kind of doctor you going to?
[stammers] The kind of doctor that...
That... that got Dr Pepper, I hope.
[Billy laughs]
Hey, y'all need me to come with?
Nah, you're running late as it is.
I got it from here.
- All right.
- [Robyn] Watch your step.
- Well, I'll bring your bags by later.
- All right.
Just holler if you need me, all right?
Bye, Mr. Grey.
[assistant] Welcome. Follow me.
[bossa nova music playing in distance]
Ooh. Ooh! That... That... That's nice.
You ever seen anything like it?
Hmm? Hmm? Oh! Oh!
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
- [Robyn] Well, come on.
- Look at this.
The doctor will be right with you.
- Can I get you something to drink?
- [stammers] A Dr Pepper, please.
[sighs]
Hello, Mr. Grey. I'm Dr. Rubin.
It is so nice to meet you.
Please, um, have a... have a seat.
- Um, Reginald Lloyd?
- [grunts]
No. Not Reggie. Robyn Barnet.
Reggie passed suddenly.
I'm... I'm so sorry to hear that.
Uh, Mr. Lloyd was Mr. Grey's caretaker,
yes?
[scoffs] I guess you could call him that.
- [Dr. Rubin] And what should I call you?
- [Robyn] Just a family friend helping out.
Okay. Good. Mr. Grey,
it is so great to finally meet you.
Yeah, I'm... I'm fine, thanks.
Well, as you should be.
That's why you were referred to me,
because you're so strong.
[chuckles] Damn right, I am.
Although, I have been told
that you have been forgetting things.
Uh… [sighs]
- I... I r... I remember what's important.
- Such as?
[Ptolemy sighs]
I know what's right and...
And... and what's wrong.
That is very important.
But do you remember what you had
for breakfast this morning?
Or the chores
that you had planned for today?
Do you remember the way home, Mr. Grey?
There's one thing you need to remember.
[stammers] Sometimes I just wanna forget.
I understand.
[chuckles]
Um... Uh, Miss... Miss Barnet, I, um...
I should tell you a little bit
about what I do.
I work with a... a group of specialists
who are trying to cure
certain aspects of Alzheimer's disease
and other forms of dementia, senility.
And we've come very far in our research.
We can virtually, if only temporarily,
eliminate almost all forms of dementia.
- When we gonna go home?
- [Robyn] Hold up!
The doctor not done talking.
[chuckles]
After two doses of the drug
that we've developed are administered,
Mr. Grey, within a week's time,
will remember everything
that he has ever known.
He'll know details
that you or I or any normal person
couldn't possibly remember.
Did you tell Reggie all this?
Sadly, no.
No, we were saving this discussion
for today's consultation,
where we would have also broached
the more… complicated aspects
of this decision,
namely the... the drawbacks.
What's the drawbacks?
I think that that conversation
is best left in a one-on-one
between Mr. Grey and myself.
A one-on-one? How that supposed to work?
Um, uh...
Thank you, Olga.
Um, early on in our research,
we developed another treatment.
Mmm. It doesn't provide 100% lucidity,
but it does provide cognizance.
You mind saying that in simple English?
[chuckles] Um, in short,
the treatment will give Mr. Grey
the ability to think clearly
and to make his own decisions.
Maybe we could, you know,
come back next week and tell you then.
Um, Miss Barnet, if I... if I may.
I know that this is very difficult,
but his own doctor's reports tell me
that he's on the very edge
of what this procedure can reverse.
By next week, maybe even tomorrow,
he'll be too far gone.
So, what... what you give him?
Like... Like a pill or something?
No. No, it's a... it's a single shot,
um, the effects lasting
12 to 24 hours approximately.
There are no side effects.
But the treatment will only work once.
Once it wears off, treating him again
will do absolutely nothing for him.
Uh...
Th... This man say
he might could help you remember again.
Even... Even where Coydog's treasure is at?
He wanna give you a shot
to help you, um, make sense
of all of this crazy shit for yourself.
Is that... Is that what you want?
Uh… [sighs]
I don't know. Uh... [sighs]
I-I... I wanna know.
Don't I?
Yeah. You do, Mr. Grey.
Uncle, you good?
[Dr. Rubin] Olga.
[inhales sharply]
[groaning]
[interviewee on TV]
The EPA must also determine
whether PFAS should be designated
as toxic pollutants
under the Clear Water Act.
If PFAS are designated as toxic,
then the EPA must establish standards
to limit discharges as PFAS
from industrial sources… [continues]
[Robyn] Dang, this room is dusty.
Dead roaches everywhere.
You turned the TV off.
Yeah. That's what I was trying to do.
You ain't worried
you gonna lose the channel?
How I'm gonna lose it?
It's right there on the TV.
Well, do you know who I am?
You are my, um... No. [chuckles]
You are Niecie's best friend's daughter
who was sent over here
to help me clean up.
[chuckling]
[sighs]
I used to have a lot of stuff
in here, huh?
Yeah, me and Billy Freres cleaned it.
- Billy?
- Yeah.
Reggie's friend.
Yeah. Right.
And Reggie is dead.
Somebody killed him.
You remember that.
They know who it was?
No, nobody know for sure.
The cops don't even care.
Where he get killed at?
Down in the alley by Delmar Circle.
[Ptolemy] Hmm.
Have you got a car?
Nah, but I could call one.
Do that.
I wanna go see where Reggie got killed at.
But the shot the doctor gave you
only gonna last maybe a half-day,
and then you'll forget again.
And you had it
about four hours ago already.
Well, I guess you better hurry up then.
- This it?
- [driver] Yes, sir.
[grunts]
You okay?
I am. It's just, you know,
you're so different.
Really? I don't feel no different.
Well, why you walking so fast?
[Ptolemy] Excuse me, sir.
- What?
- [sighs]
Uh, there was a... a... a shooting
around here not long ago.
A man got... A man got killed.
I was wondering if you, uh, knew anything.
What's your name?
My name's Ptolemy.
The man who died was my nephew, Reggie.
My great-nephew.
[chuckles]
Uncle.
[coughs]
Whoo! Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo!
Ah, that's some... that's some powerful
shit you're drinking there, partner.
- [sighs]
- Zelda.
[groans]
Yeah, Hogie?
[Hogie] You, uh...
You saw when that man got shot, right?
Maybe.
[Hogie] This dude here's his, uh, uncle.
He okay.
S-Second puddle down there.
It was a brown-colored man
with spiky hair.
You ever seen him before?
Either one of 'em?
No. Never seen either one.
Looked like they was meeting or something.
[Ptolemy] You hear anything?
You hear 'em say...
Say anything like names?
[chuckles] I heard shooting and I run.
Uh, I think the shooter had
a zig-zag-like, uh, scar.
Over his left eye, I think.
Thank y'all. God bless you.
[sighs]
Hmm. [mumbles]
[sighs]
[Robyn] Seen enough yet?
[Ptolemy sighs]
[Robyn] We need to go back.
I already told you.
Dr. Rubin is expecting us.
[Ptolemy exhales deeply]
[sighs]
Listen to me.
You need to talk to this man.
Let him tell you everything
you need to know about this treatment
so you can make a clear choice
how far you wanna go with it.
- I already know what he gonna tell me.
- How?
You told me already.
Yeah, well, that's just crazy.
What's crazy about it?
Because I don't know
what the fuck I'm talking about.
Did you cuss this much when I first...
The doctor said there's gonna be
drawbacks to the next shot.
- That don't make no difference.
- Why not?
Well, for Reggie. For you.
- For me?
- [chuckles]
I remember when he made this for me.
He blowed it up
so he could write the names on it real big
so I'd remember.
Did it at his computer at home.
For me.
He was always doing for me.
So, how I'm gonna let folk
forget his name?
What kind of man would I be…
If I didn't recognize the injustice
of his passing?
[sighs]
[knocking]
Whoever that is, tell 'em I ain't home.
[sighs]
Does Ptolemy Grey live here?
Yeah, but he asleep.
Oh.
I'm sorry I'm so late, but I had to work.
[Robyn] Well, come by in a few days,
a little earlier next time.
[Shirley] Okay. I'll come again.
Would you please tell him
that W-R-I-N-G stopped by?
He'll remember.
I will.
Such a nice man. [chuckles]
[Robyn] Uncle?
Are you okay?
[Ptolemy] Uh… Uh...
I h-had a... had a... had...
Had a... had a picture book.
- [Robyn] Yeah?
- It was blowed up. [grunts]
And my nephew made it for me.
And... And... And now I... I can't find it.
Uncle. Look at me.
Do you even know where you are?
[sighs]
[sighs] Oh, no.
[breathing heavily]
- Where is he?
- Where's the doctor?
This way.
Come. Hurry.
- [mutters]
- [Robyn] He started losing it so fast.
- I didn't know what to do.
- [Olga] Do not worry. I've brought it.
[Ptolemy] Ain't no rules, ain't no laws.
- Ain't no rules, ain't no laws, no.
- [Olga] I have a shot for him.
[Robyn] Why's this happening?
It ain't even been 12 hours.
- No rules, no laws. Oh. What...
- [Robyn] He's way worse than before.
[Ptolemy] What you doing?
Uh, who... Who's she?
[shouting] Is that gonna hurt?
Where the doctor at?
Why he ain't here with you?
You want us to stop?
- Where Reggie?
- Maybe we should stop.
[shouts] Oh, it's hot!
- It's hot.
- [Olga] It'll feel like that at first.
Bird. First bird of spring?
It's hot. It's hot! [groaning]
- [Olga] Hold him steady.
- [grunting]
- [Robyn] Can he die?
- [Olga] Some used to, not as many now.
- What do you mean "not as many"?
- Your uncle's a very brave man.
He's willing to take the chance
to wake from this condition.
- It is what he wants.
- [Ptolemy grunts] Coydog?
Coydog, don't die!
Coydog, don't... don't die!
[echoing] Stay with me.
- Oh, my... mama's on fire. She burning up!
- [Sensia] It's okay, baby.
- Oh, no. Sensie.
- It's all right. I'm right here.
Sen... Sensie! Come lay with me.
- [Sensia] I'm right here.
- Oh, God. No!
Stay with me, boy.
You know what you gotta do.
Coydog!
I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die!
I can't do this by myself!
If you die, then everything is lost.
You understand that?
There's no laws and no rules
for Black men like you and me.
There's right, and there's wrong.
As far as white people care,
it's a crime we breathing their air.
You u... You understand me?
Ye-Ye-Yes, sir.
- [Coydog] Huh?
- Y-Yes, sir.
All right then.
[breathing shakily]
Why... Why this happen, Bird?
[grunts]
What you done did to me?
[Ptolemy whimpers]
---
[news anchor on TV]
All that and more coming up this morning.
But first, we have some local news.
[continues, indistinct]
Reggie.
- [classical music playing]
- [siren wailing]
Reggie!
Where you at, boy?
[thunder rumbling]
Reggie!
[echoing] Reggie.
Reggie!
I've been looking all over for you, boy.
Reggie!
Is you in here? Huh?
[gasps]
[breathes shakily]
[wails]
No!
[sobbing]
[sobbing continues, fades]
[Hilly grunting] Shit.
You little bitch! I'm gonna fuck you up!
- [door slams open]
- [Hilly panting]
Mama, I don't know
what this look like but...
The hell you don't!
- I was trying to pick her blanket up...
- Boy, shut up!
Head on back to your room, Hilliard.
[Niecie] Go on!
- [breathing heavily]
- [door opens, closes]
You can put the knife down now.
He tried to get up on me.
- He's just a boy horsing around.
- More like a man trying to rape me!
I don't need to hear that right now.
Well, Hilly need to hear it.
I'm just t-trying to sleep.
I can see now that
having you here was wishful thinking.
That's on me. Should have known better.
Between Hilly's age and...
And you being all...
All what?
[sighs]
You're a pretty girl, Robyn.
Pretty young thing
walking around half naked.
The boy can't sleep.
- [scoffs] How's that my problem?
- You tell me.
- You're the one with the knife...
- My mama gave me this knife.
[sighing]
I know how hard it's been for you,
your daddy getting killed
and... and all the men your mother had
in the house with you, but...
- My mama loved me.
- And I loved her.
She was my best friend.
I... It's why I wanted you here.
But now I gotta think about
what's best for Hilly, and you too.
You got all your girlfriends
from the equivalency test study group.
Ask one of them
if you can stay for a little while.
[breathes shakily]
But I didn't do nothing wrong.
I know. It ain't about what you did.
It's about what you ain't woman enough
to see yet.
It's our duty to make sure
these Black men don't go crazy.
[sniffles]
Right or wrong, it's what we got to do.
[scoffs]
[bangs]
[sniffles]
[switch blade clicks]
[sniffling]
[knocking]
- [Robyn] Mr. Grey?
- [Ptolemy whimpering]
- Mr. Grey, wake up. Wake up.
- [screaming]
[Ptolemy] Who are you?
- What you doing in my house?
- It's me. It's... It's me, Robyn.
B-B... Bird? First bird of spring?
[chuckles]
How you get in here, Bird?
I still got your key from last night.
I... I came to bring it back,
and... and when I knocked,
you started screaming.
- Oh.
- What'd you dream about?
Whoo-hoo! Whoo! It was...
[breathing heavily]
It was t... It was... It was terrible.
- Yeah? What happened?
- [stammers]
[grunts, groaning]
Hey, hey, hey, hey. Wait, wait, wait!
No need for all that.
Let me get some water for your face.
Where your toilet at?
Uh... [stammers]
T-Toilet... Toilet… [stammers] …b-broke.
And... And... And... And the
sink's... sink... sink's stopped up.
Then how you go to the bathroom?
Uh... [stammers]
I do number two
when Reggie come take me to the diner.
And... And number one in a...
In an old... old... old bean can
and pour it in the k-kitchen sink
and run the faucet after.
- In the kitchen?
- Mm-hmm.
No. No. Mm-mmm. Where your toilet at?
Uh, it's... it's... it's down there.
Round there. Down the hall.
- This way?
- Least that's where it used to be.
- Nothing's gonna jump out on me?
- Mm-mmm.
- You sure?
- Mm-hmm.
[hinges creak]
Nah. Nuh-uh. N-No!
- That in there ain't right.
- Uh, well... [stammers]
Stop... Stop... Stop doing what
you're doing and go close that door.
No, no, no, no. You listen!
That don't get dealt with,
I-I'ma be haunted, you understand?
- [groaning] Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.
- Haunted.
- Mmm. So, where your cleaning stuff at?
- My treasures. Uh-uh.
What are you talking about?
E-Every time Reggie say
he gonna clean up here... in here...
H-he end up throwing away
all... all my best things.
- My best things.
- Oh, yeah? Like what?
[stammering]
- [grunting]
- Aw, come on. Don't do that.
[panting]
Come on. I'll show you.
- [grunts] Oh, you's moving too fast!
- Oh, I'm sorry.
Here, sit. Sit. Sorry.
[whimpering, panting]
I'll tell you what.
I'll show you everything before I toss it,
and you get to decide.
- Huh?
- You like that?
- Oh, uh...
- Yeah, yeah, yeah. You like that.
- All right. You ready?
- Uh, I-I guess.
[Robyn sighs]
You wanna keep this funky old toothbrush?
- [growls]
- [shudders, laughs]
- No. No, you throw that thing away.
- Yeah.
[clears throat]
- Yeah, we can get rid of that.
- [clatters]
Thinking we can get rid of this too?
Say goodbye?
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay.
Uh-uh! [stammers]
[rattles]
[laughs]
[chuckles] All right then.
- Throw that in your can now.
- [chuckles]
[laughs]
Wh-Wh-What that is?
[Robyn] I don't know. "Cough and cold."
[Ptolemy] I ain't got neither one of them.
[clattering]
[screams]
[stomps]
Oh, hell nah!
How do you live like this?
You can always go on
back over to Niecie's.
I don't live there no more.
What happened? They throwed you out?
- Yeah.
- How come?
[sighs] Don't even matter.
You can stay here.
I got plenty of tabletops.
You infested, you hear?
All these piles, all these boxes,
breeding ground.
We gonna have to put a stop to all that.
- Right now?
- Yes.
[groans]
Jesus... [sighs]
[coughs]
[toilet flushing]
[news anchor] Tensions
throughout the Middle East remain high.
What started as a civil conflict
has escalated to violence.
Eyewitness accounts…
[continues, indistinct]
Come on. Let me show you
how a bathroom's supposed to look.
[sighs]
[groans]
Why you walk so fast? [sighs]
Voilà!
[laughs]
[both chuckle]
[Ptolemy chuckling]
- [laughs] It's magic!
- [chuckles]
Nah. Your... Your float arm was just bent.
And you had junk in the toilet bowl
and the sink, but it didn't take much.
How you know how to do all this here?
My mama used to get sick,
and we ain't had no money,
so it would be on me to fix things.
- Oh, your mama's sick?
- She died.
Oh, that's too bad.
[toilet flushes]
[Ptolemy laughing, clapping]
- Ooh! Whoo! I got to go. I got to go.
- What?
- Now?
- Mm-hmm.
Just 'cause there's paper on the roll
don't mean wad it up.
The pipes might work,
but they're angry about it, you hear?
Uh-huh. Oh, Lord. [exclaims]
[door opens]
[Ptolemy] Whoo! That's something else.
Mm-mm-mmm.
Go back in there and wash your hands.
Yeah, you.
[scoffs]
I can't do this by myself.
[junk rattles]
[sighs]
You thinking about throwing away
more of my stuff?
I'm just trying to make things
better for you.
Better don't sound so bad, do it?
[sighs]
Hmm?
So, can you be...
Can you be cool with me cleaning?
- Mmm. Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
No throwing fits and...
And smacking yourself, you hear?
Mm-hmm.
- You got the key for that padlock?
- No, no, no, no, no.
No. It ain't... Uh-uh, not that.
- No, you ain't got the key? Or...
- Mm-mmm.
[grunts, sighs]
Look, I got to go in here.
There's too many roaches.
- I gotta insect bomb.
- Not in there.
- In everywhere. That's the point.
- [sighs]
Well… that's her room.
- Sensia.
- Who?
Sensia. I was... I was married to her,
and... and... and she died.
[sighs]
Look, you could lock it back up
once I'm done.
- [sighs]
- You can trust me.
You hear? You can.
It'd be like it never, ever happened.
I promise.
[sighs]
Don't worry. I'ma make this quick.
[hammering echoes]
- [whimpers]
- [hinges creak]
It's nice.
[Ptolemy] You need to come out of there.
[breathing shakily]
[grunts]
[Sensia echoing] Come on in.
Sensie?
[groans]
You coming, or what?
[chuckles]
Why you standing out there, Pitypapa?
You shy?
She gone, boy.
[Robyn] Hey, why you lock this up?
This is the best room in the house.
[TV continues, indistinct]
[Billy] Jocko, let me know
if you need help in there, aight?
- [Jocko] Aight.
- [clattering]
- [TV playing, indistinct]
- [classical music playing]
[Jocko] Hey, you not gonna use
this suitcase, are you, Mr. Grey?
You leave my traveling case alone!
And leave my bookcase alone,
and don't mess with my sounds on my TV.
Okay, okay, sir. We got you.
You come out that closet,
and don't take my books!
All right! All right.
They get the message.
Look, we almost there.
- [clattering]
- See, see, they're in my closet!
- [stammering]
- Nobody wanna go in your closet. Come on.
[stammers] It was in a...
It w... It... It was in a little trunk
made out of... made out of wood
and metal.
- Uh, and that's what it was in.
- What was?
Um, the, um... The... [groaning]
- No, come on. No need for all that.
- Oh, I can't... I for... I-I forget.
[Billy] Looks pretty good in here,
huh, Mr. Grey?
Hey, um, I'd like to take
the alligator suitcase.
- I mean, he ain't going nowhere.
- Nuh-uh! Leave my alligator alone. No!
[Jocko] He don't need it.
Hey, hey.
It's his bag, and he gonna keep it.
- That's right.
- See?
I told you.
Ain't got nothing to worry about.
- And what your name is again?
- Robyn.
- First bird of spring.
- Yes.
[chuckles]
If you want them to take this stuff
down to the recycling, we gotta go.
[Billy] Yeah, I hear you.
I'll be out there in a minute, man.
All right.
[Jocko sighs]
It was this... It wa... It was a little box
made out of metal and wood
behind a red rock
way down in the well.
Hey, Robyn. Talk a sec.
What's up?
The amount we agreed on.
- Way more than you bargained for?
- Uh…
[both chuckle]
I get it.
But don't worry. I got you.
Cool.
- Hey! Billy and Jocko are about to go.
- Bye.
[chuckles]
Well, we can't do them like that.
We got to pay them first.
Not with... Not with Coydog's treasure.
That ain't what it's for.
- Yeah, but what about your can money?
- Hmm?
Let me look.
Well, why you got a saltshaker? Whatever.
[Billy] Want me to take these fans,
Mr. Grey?
No, uh, we need those.
[Billy] Aight. Um…
[sucks]
[Billy] What about those folding chairs?
Uh, you know, just, like, take a couple.
Oh, uh, Jocko found this
taped to the side of the TV.
If... If... If you gonna stay,
you could...
You can sleep in Sensia's room.
She won't mind, and... and I can sleep
out here on this here settee.
Do you know why somebody made
this doctor's appointment?
You... You... You... You stay
in Sensia's room, if you gonna stay.
Hey, why you got to go to the doctor?
I don't know.
I ain't... I ain't... I ain't sick.
Did Reggie make
this doctor appointment for you?
Hey, wait for me outside.
Where all my stuff at?
[Robyn] So, what, you don't like it?
[chuckles] All right.
I'ma see Jocko and Billy on their way.
[stammers] Is you coming back?
- I'm just downstairs.
- Yeah, but is you coming back?
Yes.
I'll be back.
- Hey.
- Hey, what's up? You need a ride?
- Nah.
- Aight.
Did Reggie say anything to you
about taking him to a doctor?
I don't think so.
You gonna stay here with him?
[scoffs] Can't say I want to,
but Niecie kicked me out.
- I ain't got nowhere else right now.
- What Niecie do that for?
Shit, man. It was either me or Hilly.
[sighs, scoffs] That lady.
- Let me ask you.
- What?
Why don't you call Mr. Grey
"Papa Grey" or "Uncle"?
'Cause he ain't either one.
[chuckles] It's... It's respect, love.
What for, man?
Like he gonna remember no way.
Yeah. He's still a man though.
He's our elder.
- Got it, Jocko?
- Yes, sir.
[footsteps approaching]
I ain't... I ain't think
you was coming back.
But I am. And guess what?
- What?
- We going bomb shopping.
[cashier] You mean foggers?
They're not called bombs?
All I ever heard people call 'em
was bug bombs.
[cashier] Just fancy spray cans
filled with poison.
Well, that's what I want.
Yeah, I think we've still got a few.
Can I have, like, four of them?
Where you live at?
Do you have what I'm asking for?
[chuckles]
[Ptolemy] I like the way it smell in here.
Smell like... like iron nails
and motor oil.
[laughing] Hey, look!
Look at the stuff they got.
They got... It says stop leg
and foot cramps in about one minute.
- [laughs]
- [chuckles]
Mister, I don't like the way
you be looking at her.
Your eyes bugging out your head,
and your nose wide open
like a horny dog smell a bitch in heat.
That ain't how you look
at a nice young lady like this.
Pay his ass.
How much for all that?
[beeps]
[people chattering]
[audio distorted]
- [tires screech]
- [horn honks]
Hey! Watch where you going, old man.
Where the fuck you going?
Fuck you think you're going?
- [screams] Oh, no!
- Get your hands off him, bitch! [screams]
[Ptolemy screaming]
Give me my fucking money!
Where the fuck is my money? Enough...
- [shouts] Sh...
- [screaming continues]
- Fuck you, bitch.
- [grunting]
- No. No!
- Cut that shit out!
- [both shouting, grunting]
- Oh, Lord! Stop it!
- Stop! Stop! Oh! No!
- [grunts] Ah, shit!
- Let her go!
- [grunts]
Where the fuck is my money?
I need my fucking shit.
Where the fuck is my money?
Where the fuck is my shit?
I'm not playing.
- Where the fuck is my money?
- I don't know.
- [Ptolemy screaming]
- [both grunting]
[Ptolemy] No! No! No!
No, no, no, no! [grunts]
[Melinda] Bitch!
[onlookers chattering]
[breathing heavily]
It's all right. Come on. Come on.
- [whimpers]
- Come on. Get up.
Okay. Okay. [whimpering]
[door closes]
- [TV playing, indistinct]
- [classical music playing]
[breathing heavily]
You owe that fat heifer money?
Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Uh, she... she...
She came in here one time,
and she smacked me down,
took my change can.
And that's why Reggie put
the extra lock on the door
and told me d-don't let nobody in but him.
She lucky I ain't cut her.
Oh, no. Lord, no. We don't want that.
Mm-mmm. Mm-mmm.
[breathing shakily]
You d... You all right?
[sighs] I don't... I don't know.
Rest easy, Uncle.
Ain't nobody out to kill a bitch today.
- No?
- Nah.
Just got about 100,000
of these motherfuckers on my list though.
[chuckles]
[fog hissing]
Don't want the poison out in the hall.
[Robyn sighs]
Thanks, by the way.
Thank you for what?
For what you said to the man
in the hardware store.
[chuckles]
What did I say?
Where I'm gonna live
w-when you blow up my house?
Oh, I ain't blowing up your house.
Just pumping it full of poison.
That's good?
Depends on whether you're in or out.
And what is we?
We out, Uncle. We out.
This where we live at now?
Nah, we just here for tonight.
You'll be back home tomorrow.
Damn, I smell like bug bomb juice.
I still got all my God-given teeth.
- Oh, yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
[Robyn chuckles]
[Coydog echoing] Look at you, boy.
[thunder rumbles]
You're just a greedy gut.
Come on, Coy. I ain't so bad.
Where's what I stole for you?
- It's… It's... It's...
- [thunder rumbling]
I... I can't remember.
Well, you got to remember.
All a man is, is what he remember.
Okay.
Oh... Oh... Oh, okay.
I'ma find it. I'ma...
I'ma find it. I promise.
I'll do it, just let me go.
Gotta go. Let me go. Let me go.
- Let me in.
- [knocking]
Let me in! Let me in! I promise.
[shouts]
[echoing] What you waiting on?
[panting]
- [sobs] Girl, don't do that!
- What?
Like her... [stammers]
With the dress and the comb. No, no.
Okay, fine! I'll take this shit off then!
- No!
- I don't want this shit anyway!
Go! Get out! Get!
- Go!
- [sobbing]
I ain't... I didn't steal it!
[vehicle passes]
[car horns honking]
[distorted screaming]
[honking continues]
- [gasps]
- [distorted screaming in distance]
[grunts]
[grunting]
- Go away!
- What the hell are you doing?
[panting] He said... He said...
He said help me.
[stammers] And I kicked him.
[panting]
You can't run away from me like that,
you hear?
I got away.
[groaning, breathing heavily]
[Ptolemy stammers] I bring these?
Nah.
Well, it ain't... it ain't...
It ain't got no business being here.
[stammers] In fact,
I... I shouldn't have kept it.
They belong to your wife.
[Ptolemy] Yeah, but she dead.
Maybe... Maybe... Maybe you can...
You can take 'em
and treat 'em like a woman ought to.
You should go to bed. It's late.
C-C-Can I listen to the TV?
[reporter on TV] …parts
of the United States will be subject
to increasing extreme rainfall
and flooding.
Meanwhile, warming in the Arctic
is also reaching record highs
with temperatures surging
across the region.
The loss of ice from melting
affects not only the animals and wildlife
that rely on habitat for survival,
but also impacts the polar jet stream
which is also directly…
I-I-Is we going home now?
Is Reggie coming later?
Nah, it's just you and me.
But Reggie did want you
to go see this doctor,
so I guess we heading there first.
Same doctor who had the... the woman
w-with the head growing out of her neck?
[car horn honks]
- [Robyn] What's up?
- What's up?
Y'all ready?
[Robyn] Watch your step.
- You doing all right, Mr. Grey?
- Yes, I am!
- [chuckles]
- All good. All good.
- How are you? Uh... Uh... Uh...
- Got it.
- Billy.
- Billy.
["Hip Hop Hooray" playing on speakers]
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- But…
♪ Hip hop hooray, ho ♪
♪ Hey, ho, hey, ho ♪
[Robyn laughs]
♪ Hey, ho ♪
♪ You drew a picture of my morning
But you couldn't make my day ♪
♪ I'm rockin' and you're yawning
But you never look my way ♪
♪ I'm licking down you, darlin'
In every single way ♪
♪ Your funny flow is foreign
And a green card's on the way ♪
- Hey! You having fun?
- [song continues]
[chuckles] Yeah!
I... I... I used to drive an ice truck
like this here.
All right, Mr. Grey in the ice truck,
you dig?
[Robyn, Billy laughing]
[song fades]
[song ends]
[Ptolemy grunts]
- Lord! [laughs]
- [laughs] What?
Mr. Grey,
what kind of doctor you going to?
[stammers] The kind of doctor that...
That... that got Dr Pepper, I hope.
[Billy laughs]
Hey, y'all need me to come with?
Nah, you're running late as it is.
I got it from here.
- All right.
- [Robyn] Watch your step.
- Well, I'll bring your bags by later.
- All right.
Just holler if you need me, all right?
Bye, Mr. Grey.
[assistant] Welcome. Follow me.
[bossa nova music playing in distance]
Ooh. Ooh! That... That... That's nice.
You ever seen anything like it?
Hmm? Hmm? Oh! Oh!
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
- [Robyn] Well, come on.
- Look at this.
The doctor will be right with you.
- Can I get you something to drink?
- [stammers] A Dr Pepper, please.
[sighs]
Hello, Mr. Grey. I'm Dr. Rubin.
It is so nice to meet you.
Please, um, have a... have a seat.
- Um, Reginald Lloyd?
- [grunts]
No. Not Reggie. Robyn Barnet.
Reggie passed suddenly.
I'm... I'm so sorry to hear that.
Uh, Mr. Lloyd was Mr. Grey's caretaker,
yes?
[scoffs] I guess you could call him that.
- [Dr. Rubin] And what should I call you?
- [Robyn] Just a family friend helping out.
Okay. Good. Mr. Grey,
it is so great to finally meet you.
Yeah, I'm... I'm fine, thanks.
Well, as you should be.
That's why you were referred to me,
because you're so strong.
[chuckles] Damn right, I am.
Although, I have been told
that you have been forgetting things.
Uh… [sighs]
- I... I r... I remember what's important.
- Such as?
[Ptolemy sighs]
I know what's right and...
And... and what's wrong.
That is very important.
But do you remember what you had
for breakfast this morning?
Or the chores
that you had planned for today?
Do you remember the way home, Mr. Grey?
There's one thing you need to remember.
[stammers] Sometimes I just wanna forget.
I understand.
[chuckles]
Um... Uh, Miss... Miss Barnet, I, um...
I should tell you a little bit
about what I do.
I work with a... a group of specialists
who are trying to cure
certain aspects of Alzheimer's disease
and other forms of dementia, senility.
And we've come very far in our research.
We can virtually, if only temporarily,
eliminate almost all forms of dementia.
- When we gonna go home?
- [Robyn] Hold up!
The doctor not done talking.
[chuckles]
After two doses of the drug
that we've developed are administered,
Mr. Grey, within a week's time,
will remember everything
that he has ever known.
He'll know details
that you or I or any normal person
couldn't possibly remember.
Did you tell Reggie all this?
Sadly, no.
No, we were saving this discussion
for today's consultation,
where we would have also broached
the more… complicated aspects
of this decision,
namely the... the drawbacks.
What's the drawbacks?
I think that that conversation
is best left in a one-on-one
between Mr. Grey and myself.
A one-on-one? How that supposed to work?
Um, uh...
Thank you, Olga.
Um, early on in our research,
we developed another treatment.
Mmm. It doesn't provide 100% lucidity,
but it does provide cognizance.
You mind saying that in simple English?
[chuckles] Um, in short,
the treatment will give Mr. Grey
the ability to think clearly
and to make his own decisions.
Maybe we could, you know,
come back next week and tell you then.
Um, Miss Barnet, if I... if I may.
I know that this is very difficult,
but his own doctor's reports tell me
that he's on the very edge
of what this procedure can reverse.
By next week, maybe even tomorrow,
he'll be too far gone.
So, what... what you give him?
Like... Like a pill or something?
No. No, it's a... it's a single shot,
um, the effects lasting
12 to 24 hours approximately.
There are no side effects.
But the treatment will only work once.
Once it wears off, treating him again
will do absolutely nothing for him.
Uh...
Th... This man say
he might could help you remember again.
Even... Even where Coydog's treasure is at?
He wanna give you a shot
to help you, um, make sense
of all of this crazy shit for yourself.
Is that... Is that what you want?
Uh… [sighs]
I don't know. Uh... [sighs]
I-I... I wanna know.
Don't I?
Yeah. You do, Mr. Grey.
Uncle, you good?
[Dr. Rubin] Olga.
[inhales sharply]
[groaning]
[interviewee on TV]
The EPA must also determine
whether PFAS should be designated
as toxic pollutants
under the Clear Water Act.
If PFAS are designated as toxic,
then the EPA must establish standards
to limit discharges as PFAS
from industrial sources… [continues]
[Robyn] Dang, this room is dusty.
Dead roaches everywhere.
You turned the TV off.
Yeah. That's what I was trying to do.
You ain't worried
you gonna lose the channel?
How I'm gonna lose it?
It's right there on the TV.
Well, do you know who I am?
You are my, um... No. [chuckles]
You are Niecie's best friend's daughter
who was sent over here
to help me clean up.
[chuckling]
[sighs]
I used to have a lot of stuff
in here, huh?
Yeah, me and Billy Freres cleaned it.
- Billy?
- Yeah.
Reggie's friend.
Yeah. Right.
And Reggie is dead.
Somebody killed him.
You remember that.
They know who it was?
No, nobody know for sure.
The cops don't even care.
Where he get killed at?
Down in the alley by Delmar Circle.
[Ptolemy] Hmm.
Have you got a car?
Nah, but I could call one.
Do that.
I wanna go see where Reggie got killed at.
But the shot the doctor gave you
only gonna last maybe a half-day,
and then you'll forget again.
And you had it
about four hours ago already.
Well, I guess you better hurry up then.
- This it?
- [driver] Yes, sir.
[grunts]
You okay?
I am. It's just, you know,
you're so different.
Really? I don't feel no different.
Well, why you walking so fast?
[Ptolemy] Excuse me, sir.
- What?
- [sighs]
Uh, there was a... a... a shooting
around here not long ago.
A man got... A man got killed.
I was wondering if you, uh, knew anything.
What's your name?
My name's Ptolemy.
The man who died was my nephew, Reggie.
My great-nephew.
[chuckles]
Uncle.
[coughs]
Whoo! Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo!
Ah, that's some... that's some powerful
shit you're drinking there, partner.
- [sighs]
- Zelda.
[groans]
Yeah, Hogie?
[Hogie] You, uh...
You saw when that man got shot, right?
Maybe.
[Hogie] This dude here's his, uh, uncle.
He okay.
S-Second puddle down there.
It was a brown-colored man
with spiky hair.
You ever seen him before?
Either one of 'em?
No. Never seen either one.
Looked like they was meeting or something.
[Ptolemy] You hear anything?
You hear 'em say...
Say anything like names?
[chuckles] I heard shooting and I run.
Uh, I think the shooter had
a zig-zag-like, uh, scar.
Over his left eye, I think.
Thank y'all. God bless you.
[sighs]
Hmm. [mumbles]
[sighs]
[Robyn] Seen enough yet?
[Ptolemy sighs]
[Robyn] We need to go back.
I already told you.
Dr. Rubin is expecting us.
[Ptolemy exhales deeply]
[sighs]
Listen to me.
You need to talk to this man.
Let him tell you everything
you need to know about this treatment
so you can make a clear choice
how far you wanna go with it.
- I already know what he gonna tell me.
- How?
You told me already.
Yeah, well, that's just crazy.
What's crazy about it?
Because I don't know
what the fuck I'm talking about.
Did you cuss this much when I first...
The doctor said there's gonna be
drawbacks to the next shot.
- That don't make no difference.
- Why not?
Well, for Reggie. For you.
- For me?
- [chuckles]
I remember when he made this for me.
He blowed it up
so he could write the names on it real big
so I'd remember.
Did it at his computer at home.
For me.
He was always doing for me.
So, how I'm gonna let folk
forget his name?
What kind of man would I be…
If I didn't recognize the injustice
of his passing?
[sighs]
[knocking]
Whoever that is, tell 'em I ain't home.
[sighs]
Does Ptolemy Grey live here?
Yeah, but he asleep.
Oh.
I'm sorry I'm so late, but I had to work.
[Robyn] Well, come by in a few days,
a little earlier next time.
[Shirley] Okay. I'll come again.
Would you please tell him
that W-R-I-N-G stopped by?
He'll remember.
I will.
Such a nice man. [chuckles]
[Robyn] Uncle?
Are you okay?
[Ptolemy] Uh… Uh...
I h-had a... had a... had...
Had a... had a picture book.
- [Robyn] Yeah?
- It was blowed up. [grunts]
And my nephew made it for me.
And... And... And now I... I can't find it.
Uncle. Look at me.
Do you even know where you are?
[sighs]
[sighs] Oh, no.
[breathing heavily]
- Where is he?
- Where's the doctor?
This way.
Come. Hurry.
- [mutters]
- [Robyn] He started losing it so fast.
- I didn't know what to do.
- [Olga] Do not worry. I've brought it.
[Ptolemy] Ain't no rules, ain't no laws.
- Ain't no rules, ain't no laws, no.
- [Olga] I have a shot for him.
[Robyn] Why's this happening?
It ain't even been 12 hours.
- No rules, no laws. Oh. What...
- [Robyn] He's way worse than before.
[Ptolemy] What you doing?
Uh, who... Who's she?
[shouting] Is that gonna hurt?
Where the doctor at?
Why he ain't here with you?
You want us to stop?
- Where Reggie?
- Maybe we should stop.
[shouts] Oh, it's hot!
- It's hot.
- [Olga] It'll feel like that at first.
Bird. First bird of spring?
It's hot. It's hot! [groaning]
- [Olga] Hold him steady.
- [grunting]
- [Robyn] Can he die?
- [Olga] Some used to, not as many now.
- What do you mean "not as many"?
- Your uncle's a very brave man.
He's willing to take the chance
to wake from this condition.
- It is what he wants.
- [Ptolemy grunts] Coydog?
Coydog, don't die!
Coydog, don't... don't die!
[echoing] Stay with me.
- Oh, my... mama's on fire. She burning up!
- [Sensia] It's okay, baby.
- Oh, no. Sensie.
- It's all right. I'm right here.
Sen... Sensie! Come lay with me.
- [Sensia] I'm right here.
- Oh, God. No!
Stay with me, boy.
You know what you gotta do.
Coydog!
I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die!
I can't do this by myself!
If you die, then everything is lost.
You understand that?
There's no laws and no rules
for Black men like you and me.
There's right, and there's wrong.
As far as white people care,
it's a crime we breathing their air.
You u... You understand me?
Ye-Ye-Yes, sir.
- [Coydog] Huh?
- Y-Yes, sir.
All right then.
[breathing shakily]
Why... Why this happen, Bird?
[grunts]
What you done did to me?
[Ptolemy whimpers]